Muhammad Yunus Meeting with Xi Jinping | Yunus-XI speaks on March 28

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus should hold bilateral interviews with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

It would be the first high -level bilateral meeting of Yunus since its entry into office on August 8 of last year.

Yunus is expected to leave for China, the largest trading partner in Bangladesh in the afternoon of March 26, said Rafiqul Alam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to journalists during the weekly briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On March 27, he will give a speech to the opening plenary of the Boao forum for the annual conference in Asia. He will meet the executive vice-president of the Chinese Council of State later in the afternoon.

On March 29, he was expected to attend an event at the University of Beijing in the morning before returning home that evening.

The ministries concerned are working on bilateral programs and understanding memorandums (MOUS) which will be signed during the high -level visit.

Earlier this week, an interministerial meeting took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the Bangladesh agenda during the upcoming talks with the Chinese president.

The government is working on a dozen muskets, the Daily Star has learned officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed of the procedure.

Dhaka wants to increase exports to China and foreign direct investments from China. Currently, Bangladesh exports to China amount to less than $ 1 billion, while its imports amount to around 24 billion dollars.

During the visit of the foreign advisor Touhid Hosquain in China in January, Beijing agreed in principle to extend the period of reimbursement of Chinese loans and assured Dhaka, he would examine the request for drop in the interest rate to facilitate the pressure of the reimbursement of the foreign debt of the Bangladesh.

Also during yesterday's briefing, Dacca described recent remarks on Bangladesh by New Delhi as “unjustified” and equivalent to “interference” in the domestic affairs of another country.

“Bangladesh has taken note of comments from the spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs of India on the comments of March 7 of Bangladesh, the situation of the law and the order linked to minorities,” said Alam.

On March 7, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, said that New Delhi supported “a stable, peaceful, inclusive and progressive bangladesh in which all the questions are resolved by democratic means and by organizing inclusive and participative elections”.

“We are concerned about the deterioration of the situation of the public order as you mentioned, which was still exacerbated by the release of violent extremists who were sentenced to serious crimes,” he said.

In response, Alam said: “Bangladesh firmly thinks that these questions are entirely its internal affairs, and these remarks are unjustified and reach interference in the internal issues of another country.”

New Delhi's comments were misleading and did not reflect reality on the ground. “

Bangladesh confirms the principles of respect for the sovereignty of each nation, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs while remaining determined to promote friendly and constructive relations with India according to mutual respect, confidence and understanding, he said.

“From this point of view, Bangladesh hopes that the competent authorities of the Indian government will take the necessary measures to refrain from making such comments.”

India has not yet responded to the Bangladesh extradition request to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to be tried in connection with the murders during the July uprising last year, he said.

When asked how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is trying to counter propaganda by the Indian media, Alam said that the negative campaign against Bangladesh was mainly led by various media houses in their own way.

“It is not easy to properly manage such propaganda. But this case is under study by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We regularly discuss the best way to respond,” he added.

However, the chief advisor's press wing yesterday sent a replica on this subject, urging the Indian media to withdraw the stories and to issue clarifications.

The reports of certain Indian media, including the economic time and India, today alleging coups or instability within the Bangladesh army are “not only without foundation but also deeply irresponsible”, according to the press release.

Bangladesh is a stable democratic nation with solid institutions, including its armed forces, which have constantly demonstrated professionalism and the commitment to protect national interests, to protect the people and the constitution, according to the press release.

Such disinformation campaigns undermines the principles of non-interference and harm the spirit of regional cooperation and mutual respect.

“Residents of India and Bangladesh deserve better than being subject to propaganda for fear and division,” he added.